Songkhla attractions
|
Ko Nu and Ko Maeo (เกาะหนู – เกาะแมว)
This well-known symbol of Songkhla is situated off the shore of Samila Beach. A legend says that a dog, a cat, and a mouse, on a Chinese sampan stole the merchant’s magic crystal and tried to swim ashore but drowned and lost their lives. The mice and cats became the islands in the Songkhla Lake while the dog died on shore and became the hill called Hin Khao Tang Kuan near the bay. The crystal was totally destroyed and became the white sandy beach called Hat Sai Kaeo.
|
Golden mermaid statue at Samila beach
Gen Prem Tinsulanonda potrait at Pathammarong Museum
Ban Sattha (บ้านศรัทธา) is situated on a hill slope overlooking the Tinsulanond Bridge to Ko Yo. It is surrounded by coconut plantations. The city people had it built for H.E. Prem Tinsulanond, the Privy Councilor and Statesman, when he was the Prime Minister. Construction was completed on 26 August 1991. In 1996, H.E. Prem gave the house back to the people of Songkhla. There is a public library nearby.
Institute for Southern Thai Studies (สถาบันทักษิณคดีศึกษา), situated on Ko Yo, near the foot of the second part of the Tinsulanond Bridge. It was established in 1978 for the studies of southern art and culture. Its museum has comprehensive exhibits on local art and culture, and southern lives as well as artifacts echoing local wisdom accumulated through several generations. The systematic exhibits cover more than 30 rooms displaying history, religion, tradition, occupation, folk play, handicrafts, and various artifacts. Viewing points for the Songkhla Lake and aquaculture farms should not be missed. Admission fee is 50 baht. Call 0 7433 1185-8.
Khao Noi (เขาน้อย), near Samila Beach, has a road to the hilltop for paying homage to the statue of Prince Lop Buri Ramet (The Southern Viceroy), and to view the city. On the east is a public park with food services and tennis courts. On the northeast is Suan Seri, another park with ornamental plants in animal shapes. Tamnak Khao Noi, on the south, was built in 1911 as the residence of Prince Lop Buri Ramet and was used by His Majesties the King and Queen on their visit to the south in March 1959. Today the mansion is the residence of the Songkhla Provincial Governor.
Khao Kao Seng (เขาเก้าเส้ง) is located about three kilometres to the south of Hat Samila. It can be reached via the road to The National Coastal Aquaculture Institute. It is one of the beautiful beaches of Songkhla, dotted with large boulders one of which is on a rock, the locals call it “Hua Nai Raeng”. It was said that underneath this boulder there used to be treasures stored by the people as funds for the construction of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Chedi and had protecting spirits.
Khao Tang Kuan (เขาตังกวน) at Samila Beach has the Sala Vihan Daeng, the royal pavilion built during the reign of King Rama V. On the hilltop is a Dvaravati chedi housing the Buddha’s relics that was built during the Nakhon Si Thammarat Empire. In October there is a festival to clad the chedi with a cloth, to pull the Buddha’s image, and to offer alms to monks. A panoramic view of the city and the Songkhla Lake can be enjoyed on the hilltop. To reach the top, take a 30B cable lift or climb 305 steps. The cable lift service is available daily, 08:30 – 18:30.
Ko Yo (เกาะยอ) is a small island in the Songkhla Lake but is the important tourist attraction of Songkhla. The island, covering an area of 3,710 acres, can be reached via Tinsulanond Bridge The coastal plain is suitable for agriculture, resulting in famous fruit-growing such as a special kind of jackfruit called Jampada. Another famous product is the hand-woven fabric.
Laem Sai Estuary Fortress (ป้อมปืนปากน้ำแหลมทราย) was constructed in the reign of King Rama III, at the time of the city’s establishment. Today this fortress is behind the Songkhla Provincial Police Headquarters.
Phathammarong Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์พะธำมะรง), on Chana Road near the Songkhla National Museum. It was constructed constructed in the late 80s, built in a Thai style to resemble the birthplace of H.E. Prem Tinsulanond, the former Prime Minister and Statesman who is a Songkhla native. The construction was based on his testimony when his father was the prison warden. Admission is free, open from Tue to Sun, 8:30-16:00, close on public holiday. The tourist information centre is at the entrance of the museum. Guilded tour to the museum will be given by the tourist information centre personnel who will also hand you a copy of useful Songkhla tourist brochure with a useful map inside.
Samila Beach (แหลมสมิหลา), about 2.5 kilometres from the fresh market (Thalat Supsin or Thalat Sot Thetsaban). This peninsula is well-known for its white sandy beach, shady pine groves, and the statue of a mermaid that is Songkhla’s symbol. East of this statue is cat and rat sculptures. This is a nice, peaceful beach to stroll along, plenty of benches can be found between casuarina trees. Many facilities such as sidewalks, pavilions havce veen added to enhance this place as the main attaraction of Songkhla. It is serviced by Hat Yai-Songkhla buses. From within the city, one can take a minibus to the beach.
Son On Beach (แหลมสนอ่อน) is situated to the northwest of Laem Samila. It is well shaded with sea pines. At the end of the peninsula stands the statue of Prince Chumphon Khet Udomsak. This peninsula is the best spot to view Ko Nu and the Songkhla Lake.
Songkhla’s City Pillar (ศาลหลักเมืองสงขลา), on Nang Ngam Road, is a revered site to Songkhla’s population. The Chinese architectural style building was constructed together with the city itself. Nearby dwellings, especially on Nakhon Nai and Nakhon Nok Roads also bear the same influence. The Chinese immigrants who came to settle there at the beginning of the 24th Buddhist Century had a major role in the establishment of Songkhla, hence, the distinctive Chinese lifestyle of the area.
Songkhla Lake (ทะเลสาบสงขลา), the only natural lake in Thailand is about 80 kilometres long and 20 to 25 kilometres wide. It is a freshwater lake with brackish water near the mouth. There are several islands across from its mouth, the major ones include Ko Yai, Ko Si, Ko Ha, Ko Kaeo, Ko Mak, Ko Rai, and Ko Yo. Boats are available for touring the lake. The port behind the post office or the fresh market has all-day long-tailed boat services.
Songkhla National Museum (พิพิธภัณฑสถานแห่งชาติสงขลา), on Chana Road, 0 7431 1728, . The museum was originally built by Phraya Sunthararak (Net Na Songkhla), the assistant Governor of Songkhla during 1878-1894, as Songkhla ruler’s mansion in Chinese style. It became the domicile of Songkhla’s upper administrative officers and finally the City Hall. It displays southern folk art and crafts, Thawarawadi and Siwichai artifacts, prehistoric finds, old Thai and Chinese ceramics, art objects of the southern peninsula. It has a notable collection of the artifacts of the ‘Na Songkhla Family’ that used to rule the city. It is open to the public, from 9AM to 12 noon and 1PM to 4PM, except Mondays, Tuesdays, and public holidays. Admission is 150B.
Songkhla Zoo (สวนสัตว์สงขลา) is an open zoo, on the Songkhla-Chana Highway, Tambon Khao Rup Chang. It was established for the preservation of Thai wildlife and to return them to the wild. The zoo covers a hilly area with an asphalt ring road. The various animals have been grouped separately, such camels, birds, red gaur, tigers, crocodiles, and others. One of the highlights in the zoo not to be missed is the viewing point for the city where food stalls are available. For more information please call 0 7432 5037-8.
Tinsulanond Bridge (สะพานติณสูลานนท์) spans the Songkhla Lake and is part of Highway 408. It is the longest concrete bridge in Thailand, with two parts: the first part connects the coast of Amphoe Mueang Songkhla at Ban Nam Krachai to the southern coast of Ko Yo, this part is about 1,140 metres long; the second part connects the northern shore of Ko Yo to the coast of Ban Khao Khiao, a length of 1,800 metres. It was opened to traffic on 25 September 1986.
Wat Chai Mongkhon (วัดชัยมงคล), on Phetmongkhon-Chaimongkhon Road, has a chedi that was built to house the Buddhist relics brought back from Langka by a monk named “Na Issaro” who was teaching Pali there in B.E. 2435.
Wat Matchimawat (Wat Khlang, วัดมัชฌิมาวาสหรือวัดกลาง), on Sai Buri Road, is a large temple and the most important in Songkhla. It is about 400 years old. It was said that Yai Si Chan, a millionaire of Songkhla donated a large sum of money to construct the temple. Later on Wat Liap was built on the north, and Wat Pho on the south. The people then changed the name of the temple from “Wat Yai Si Chan” to “Wat Khlang” or “Wat Matchimawat”. This temple also has the Phattharasin Museum that houses various artifacts gathered from Songkhla, Sathing Phra, Ranot, and elsewhere.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Songkhla
